Floating-body dynamic random access memory with purge line

ABSTRACT

Embodiments relate to a Floating Body Dynamic Random Access Memory (FBDRAM). The FBDRAM utilizes a purge line to reset a FBDRAM cell, prior to writing data to the FBDRAM cell.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/721,184, filed on Nov. 26, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of invention generally relates to electronics.

2. Background of the Related Art

Electronics are very important to the lives of many people. In fact, electronics are present in almost all electrical devices (e.g. radios, televisions, toasters, and computers). It may be desirable for electronics to be designed as small as possible. Also, it may be desirable for electronics to operate as fast as possible. In fact, in some circumstances, electronics will operate faster when they are made smaller. Smaller devices may consume less power. Electronics that consume less power may also generate less heat. Electronics that generate less heat may operate at faster speeds. The speed of a electronic device may be a critical attribute governing its usefulness. For example, a computer which operates at a fast speed may be able to perform many different types of tasks (e.g. displaying moving video, making complex computations, and communicating with other devices) which a relatively slow computer may not be able to perform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary global diagram of a portion of a computer.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a plurality of memory cells each coupled to a bit line and a word line.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary illustrations of a memory cell coupled to a word line and a bit line.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary table illustrating voltages during operation of a memory cell.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary illustration of a plurality of memory cells each coupled to a bit line, a word line, and a purge line.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are exemplary illustrations of a memory cell coupled to a word line, a bit line, and a purge line.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary table illustrating voltages applied during operation of a memory cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Electrical hardware (e.g. a computer) may include many electrical devices. In fact, a computer may include millions of electrical devices (e.g. transistors, resistors, and capacitors). These electrical devices may work together in order for hardware to operate correctly. Accordingly, electrical devices of hardware may be electrically coupled together. This coupling may be either direct coupling (e.g. direct electrical connection) or indirect coupling (e.g. electrical communication through a series of components).

FIG. 1 is an exemplary global illustration of a computer. The computer may include a processor 4, which acts as a brain of the computer. Processor 4 may be formed on a die. Processor 4 may include an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) 8 and may be included on the same die as processor 4. ALU 8 may be able to perform continuous calculations in order for processor 4 to operate. Processor 4 may include cache memory 6 which may be for temporarily storing information. Cache memory 6 may be included on the same die as processor 4. Information stored in cache memory 6 may be readily available to ALU 8 for performing calculations. A computer may also include an external cache memory 2 to supplement internal cache memory 6. Power supply 7 may be provided to supply energy to processor 4 and other components of a computer. A computer may include a chip set 12 coupled to processor 4. Chip set 12 may intermediately couple processor 4 to other components of the computer (e.g. graphical interface 10, Random Access Memory (RAM) 14, and/or a network interface 16). One exemplary purpose of chip set 12 is to manage communication between processor 4 and these other components. For example, graphical interface 10, RAM 14, and/or network interface 16 may be coupled to chip set 12.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a plurality of memory cells (C_(AA), C_(AB), C_(AC), C_(BA), C_(BB), C_(BC), C_(CA), C_(CB), and C_(CC)). Each memory cell may be coupled to a bit line (BL_(A), BL_(B), or BL_(C)) and a word line (WL_(A), WL_(B), or WL_(C)). Word lines (WL_(A), WL_(B), and WL_(C)) may be used to activate a given memory cell. Bit lines may be used to read or write information from a given memory cell. In the exemplary illustration of FIG. 2, word line WL_(A) is used to activate cells C_(AA), C_(AB), and C_(AC). Cells C_(AA), C_(AB), and C_(AC) may be activated at the same time by word line WL_(A). When cells C_(AA), C_(AB), or C_(AC) are activated, data may be written to each of these cells through bit line BL_(A), BL_(B), or BL_(C). Data stored in cells C_(AA), C_(AB), and C_(AC) may constitute a “word”, which may be activated by word line WL_(A). A “word” may be defined as a multi-bit segment of data. Likewise, cells C_(BA), C_(BB), and C_(BC) may be activated by word line WL_(B). Data written to or read from cells C_(BA), C_(BB), and C_(BC) may be communicated through bit lines BL_(A), BL_(B), and BL_(C). In embodiments of the present invention, only one of word lines WL_(A), WL_(B), and WL_(C) is activated at the same time, since bit lines BL_(A), BL_(B), and BL_(C) are shared by the different sets of cells that constitute a word.

The memory cells illustrated in FIG. 2 may have one of several configurations. For example, the memory cell may be a six transistor Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell. Alternatively, a memory cell may be a one transistor, one capacitor Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cell. Further, in embodiments, each memory cell may be Floating Body Dynamic Random Access Memory (FBDRAM) cell. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that FIG. 2 merely illustrates an arbitrary number of cells in a matrix and that different dimension of such a matrix may be utilized with a corresponding number of bit lines and word lines.

FIG. 3A is an exemplary illustration of a memory cell which is a Floating Body Dynamic Random Access Memory (FBDRAM) cell. The cell may include a single transistor 19 connected to word line WL and bit line BL. Gate 24 of transistor 19 may be connected to word line WL. First channel interface 22 of transistor 19 may be connected to bit line BL. Second channel interface 18 of transistor 19 may be connected to ground 26. Body 20 of transistor 19 may be floating. Body 20 may be floating by being substantially electrically isolated from first channel interface 22, second channel interface 18, and gate 24. In embodiments of the present invention, first channel interface 22 may be either source or drain of transistor 19. Likewise, second channel interface 18 may be either source or drain of transistor 19. In embodiments of the present invention, transistor 19 is a MOSFET transistor.

A logical 1 may be written to transistor 19 by word line WL transmitting a high voltage to gate 24 of transistor 19 and bit line BL transmitting a high voltage to first channel interface 22 of transistor 19. By this combination of voltages applied to transistor 19, an electrical charge may be collected in the floating body 20 of transistor 19. To write a logical 0 to transistor 19, a high voltage may be applied to gate 24 through word line WL and a very low voltage (e.g. negative voltage) may be applied to first channel interface 22. When a very low voltage is applied to the channel interface 22, any charges in the floating body 20 are discharged.

FIG. 3B is an exemplary illustration showing intrinsic features of transistor 19. Specifically, floating body 20 is illustrated as being connected to bit line BL through diode 28 and current source 30. Diode 28 and current source 30 are shown as being connected and in parallel. Diode 28 and current source 30 are not separate devices from transistor 19, but rather represent intrinsic properties of transistor 19. Although floating body 20 is theoretically electrically isolated from the other portions of transistor 19, practically, there is some electrical communication between floating body 20 and first channel interface 22.

Referring to FIG. 3B, when an appropriately high voltage is applied to first channel interface 22 and a high voltage is applied to gate 24, an impact ionization current flows through floating body 20. This current is represented by intrinsic current source 30. As a result of an impact ionization current, electron holes are created in the floating body 20, which effectively stores a charge in floating body 20. Likewise, when a sufficiently low voltage is applied to first channel interface 22 and a high voltage is applied to gate 24, intrinsic diode 28 becomes forward biased and electrons migrate from floating body 20 to bit line BL, removing electron holes from floating body 20. In other words, electric charge is dissipated from the floating body when a sufficiently low voltage is applied to first channel interface 22 and a high voltage is applied to gate 24. Accordingly, when a sufficiently low voltage is applied to first channel interface 22 through bit line BL, charge is removed from floating body 20 and data stored in floating body 20 may represent a logical 0. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that diode 28 and current source 30 are intrinsic attributes of transistor 19 and are not separate semiconductor structures from transistor 19.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary table illustrating the necessary voltage levels for operation of a floating body dynamic random access memory cell. In order to write a logical 0 or write a logical 1, a low voltage must be applied to second channel interface 18. In exemplary illustrations FIGS. 3A and 3B, a low voltage applied to second channel interface 18 is 0 V by being connected to ground 26. In a hold operation, a very low voltage is applied to gate 24 while a low voltage is applied to first channel interface 22. In other words, during a hold operation, the very low voltage applied to gate 24 can effectuate electrical isolation of floating body 20, so that floating body 20 can hold charges representing either a logical 0 or a logical 1.

Although first channel interface 22 may ideally apply a low voltage during a hold operation, it is possible that a high voltage may be applied. As illustrated in FIG. 2, bit lines BL_(A), BL_(B), or BL_(C) each may service a set of cells, wherein each set of cells is in a different word. For example, in FIG. 2, bit line BL_(A) services cell C_(AA), C_(BA), and C_(CA). During normal operation of a memory cell matrix, the bit line voltage may vary during the hold operation, because each bit line is servicing different words. As illustrated in exemplary FIG. 2, a given word line will service a plurality of cells in the same word. For example, word line WL_(A) services cell C_(AA), C_(AB), and C_(AC). Accordingly, cells C_(AA), C_(AB), and C_(AC) will all have a very low voltage applied to their gates during a hold operation. In other words, an entire word will experience a hold operation at the same time. The very low voltage applied to the gates during a hold operation may insulate the charge (representing a logical 0 or logical 1) in the floating bodies from any voltage fluctuations on the bit lines.

As discussed above and as shown in exemplary FIG. 4, during the writing of a logical 0, the word line will apply a high voltage to gate 24 and a very low voltage on bit line BL to first channel interface 22. Likewise, during the writing of a logical 1 to transistor 19, the word line applies a high voltage to gate 24 and a high voltage on bit line BL to first channel interface 22.

In certain small-scale electronic devices, it is desirable for transistors to have very small dimensions. Accordingly, voltage tolerances on interfaces of a transistor may be relatively low. When there are relatively low tolerances, the voltage difference between a gate and each channel interface cannot exceed a threshold specific to that transistor. For example, if a very low voltage is applied to gate 24 and a high voltage is applied to a first channel interface 22, breakdown may occur and the transistor will not operate. If a transistor does not operate, it will not function in a memory device.

Large voltage differences which may cause breakdown are illustrated in exemplary FIG. 4. During a writing of a logical 0, a high voltage is applied on word line WL to gate 24 and very low voltage is applied on bit line BL to first channel interface 22. In this circumstance, in small-scale devices, breakdown may occur and transistor 19 may not operate properly because transistor 19 cannot tolerate the voltage difference between gate 24 (high voltage) and first channel interface 22 (very low voltage). Similarly, in a hold operation, a very low voltage is applied on the word line WL to gate 24 and the voltage level applied on bit line BL to first channel interface 22 may be either very low, low, or high. This fluctuation may be attributed to the possibility that the bit line BL services other memory cells in other words. When a write operation is implemented in another cell, a high voltage may be applied on bit line BL, which is consequently applied to first channel interface 22 of transistor 19 in the hold state. Accordingly, during a hold operation there may be a very low voltage applied to gate 24 and a high voltage applied to first channel interface 22. In small-scale electronic devices, this large voltage difference may cause breakdown and the transistor may not function.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary illustration of embodiments of the present invention. In embodiments, a matrix of memory cells include cells C_(AA), C_(AB), C_(AC), C_(BA), C_(BB), C_(BC), C_(CA), C_(CB), and C_(CC). Each of these cells are connected to a bit line, a word line, and a purge line. For example, cell C_(AA) is connected to word line WL_(A), bit line BL_(A) and purge line PL_(A). Similar to FIG. 2, word line WL_(A) services a word including cells C_(AA), C_(AB), and C_(AC). Additionally, purge line PL_(A) services this same word.

FIG. 6A illustrates embodiments of the present invention including a floating body dynamic random access memory (FBDRAM) with a purge line. In these embodiments, word line WL is connected to gate 40. Bit line BL is connected to first channel interface 42. Purge line PL is connected to second channel interface 44. Floating body 46 is substantially electrically isolated from the other components of transistor 41. In embodiments of the present invention, transistor 41 is a MOSFET transistor.

In operation of transistor 41 as a memory cell, according to embodiments of the present invention, every time data is written to transistor 41, two operations must occur. First, transistor 41 must be purged of any stored electrical charges. Second, transistor 41 must be programmed according to data transmitted on bit line BL. During the purge operation, a very low voltage is applied on purge line PL to transistor 41 by applying a very low voltage to second channel interface 44. As shown in FIG. 6B, intrinsic diode 48 becomes forward biased during the purge operation, consequently removing any electron holes that were previously in floating body 46. In embodiments of the present invention during the purge operation, a very low voltage may be applied to gate 40. By applying a very low voltage to gate 40, efficiency and power consumption may be improved. However, it is not absolutely necessary for a very low voltage to be applied to gate 40 in order for the purge operation to be successful.

During a write operation, a low voltage may be applied to second channel interface 44 through purge line PL and a high voltage may be applied on word line WL to gate 40. If a logical 0 is written to transistor 41, a low voltage may be applied on bit line BL to first channel interface 42. In embodiments, the low voltage applied on bit line BL to transistor 41 effectively maintains a zero charge state of the floating body 46 of transistor 41. Accordingly, after the purge operation, floating body 46 may store a charge representing a logical 0. By applying low voltage on bit line BL, this charge representing a logical 0 may be maintained.

During a write operation of a logical 1 to transistor 41, a high voltage is applied on bit line BL to first channel interface 42. When this high voltage is applied to first channel interface 42, an impact ionization current is applied to floating body 46, creating electron holes in the floating body and effectively storing a charge in floating body 46. The impact ionization current phenomenon is represented by intrinsic current source 50 in FIG. 6B. In embodiments, intrinsic diode 48 may only be forward-biased during the purge operation and operates only when a very low voltage is applied on purge line PL to second channel interface 44. Likewise, intrinsic current source 50 may only operate during the writing of a logical 1 when a high voltage is applied on the bit line BL to first channel interface 42. In embodiments, a high voltage may be applied to gate 40 during writing of a logical 1.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary table illustrating voltages applied during a hold operation, a purge operation, a write logical 0 operation, and a write logical 1 operation of a floating body dynamic random access memory cell with a purge line according to embodiments of the present invention. During a hold operation, second channel interface 44 and gate 40 receive a low voltage level (e.g. ground). During a purge operation, second channel interface 44 and gate 40 receive a very low voltage (e.g. a negative voltage). During a hold operation, first channel interface 42 may receive a low voltage or high voltage from bit line BL. This fluctuation of voltage over the bit line BL during a hold operation may be attributed to activity relating to another memory cell that shares bit line BL with transistor 41.

During a write operation, second channel interface 44 may receive a low voltage and gate 40 may receive a high voltage. During writing of a logical 0, first channel interface 42 may receive a low voltage. Conversely, during writing of a logical 1, first channel interface 42 may receive a high voltage. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, at no point during a hold, purge, or write operation are there extreme voltage differences between any of the interfaces of the transistor. Accordingly, operation of a Floating Body Dynamic Random Access Memory FBDRAM can be accomplished with smaller scale devices that have lower tolerances.

In embodiments of the present invention a very low voltage is a negative voltage in a range of −0.5V to −2.5V. In embodiments, a high voltage is a positive voltage in a range of 0.5V to 2.5V. In embodiments, a low voltage is a ground voltage that is approximately 0V.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a first circuit; and a second circuit coupled to the first circuit and having a transistor that includes: (a) a first terminal coupled to a word line, (b) a second terminal coupled to a bit line, (c) a third terminal coupled to a purge line, and (d) a floating body between the second and third terminals, the purge line assuming a first value during a reset operation and a second value when data is stored in the floating body during a write operation, the first value being lower than the second value.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the word line assumes the first value and the bit line assumes the second value during the reset operation.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first value lies in a negative voltage range.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the negative voltage range includes −0.5 V. to −2.5V.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the word line and purge line assume the second value and the bit line assumes the second value or a greater value during a hold operation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bit line assumes the second value and the word line assumes a third value during the reset operation, the first value and the third value both include a negative voltage range.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and third values are a same value.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data stored in the floating body of the transistor is received from the first circuit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first circuit is a chipset, a network interface, a cache, a processor, an memory, or graphical interface.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first terminal is a gate, the second terminal is a drain, and the third terminal is a source.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first terminal is a gate, the second terminal is a source, and the third terminal is a drain.
 12. An apparatus comprising: a transistor to store data, the transistor comprising: (a) a first terminal to receive a first control signal; (b) a second terminal to receive a data signal; and (c) a third terminal to receive a second control signal, the data to be stored by resetting a floating body of the transistor and then writing the data to the floating body, the floating body to be reset when the second control signal assumes a first value lower than a second value which the second control signal assumes when the data is written into the floating body.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first terminal is a gate, the second terminal is a drain, and the third terminal is a source.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first terminal is a gate, the second terminal is a source, and the third terminal is a drain.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first control signal assumes the first value and the second terminal assumes the second value during the reset operation.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first value lies in a negative voltage range.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the negative voltage range includes −0.5 V. to 2.5V.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal assume the second value and the second terminal assumes the second value or a greater value during a hold operation. 